Bel Kaufman

Bel Kaufman, born Bella Kaufman, was an American novelist and educator who immigrated as a child to escape Russian tensions after World War I. Serving as a lifelong advocate for the school teacher, Kaufman is best known for her best-selling novel, Up the Down Staircase, which brings forth the voice of a teacher and shines a light on the bureaucracy of education during the 1960s. In her professional life, she navigated discriminatory practices, continuing to pursue a teaching certificate after years of failed attempts due to her Russian accent. Through Up the Down Staircase, she unpacked many bureaucratic confines related to the field of teaching, inspiring a later film adaptation and influencing scholarship in the decades since. Accordingly, Kaufman’s work following her initial novel explored many social issues and the human condition. Living until the age of 103, Kaufman continued her advocacy for improved efforts in the teaching profession through public speaking with a distinct style of humor and connection with her audiences.